The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-11

NF HE DUN, OONDS
from carrying out their purpose. II the
Princess OF WALES, for instance, should APP
pear In Hyde Park tomorrow dressed In
trousers and nstride OF o horse we should at
once abandon the discussion, and accept the
new order OF things with such resignation as
we could command. There would DO no uso
in contendlng against fashion 30 set, and
soon the horse women In the bride paths OF
Central Park would all be similarly habited.
But before the fashion extends from the elk
women OF Paris we may perhaps be allowed
to offer few suggestions % to the advis-
ability OF it's general adoption.
Already the dress Of women has been as-
simulated In many respects to that OF men,
and go far as tho change has gone IL has un-
questionably been for the better. Instead OF
the paper-soled shoes Of q generation ago,
women now wear the heavy soles which are
as requisite to their health rs they are to the
health Of men. They no longer trail the pet
ticoats OF their gowns along the pavements
or tire themselves by holding them up as
they walk abroad. Underclothing adapted
to the changes Of the temperature Is worn by
both sexes though tho time was when
women suffered for the lack OF 1t
In order that their figures might seem
the moro ethereal. Overcoats In cut not
much unlike those Of men are now
adopted by women; and the jersey jacket OF
the sailor has been deservedly popular
among them for several years. They also
have affected tailor-made garments fash
Toned after those Of the male sex, and sailor
hats and Derbys worn by them are in all re-
spects except 1t may be 30 far as trimming
goes, the same as those obtained by men at
their hatters Something approaching a
masculine waistcoat has also become fire.
quent part Of women's attire, and collars
and cravats little different from those OF
their brothers have been adopted the mate
rial OF their garments too being often the
same as that used by the tailors for men.
All this has been a sensible change. for 1t
has increased the comfort and adaptabllity
Of the garments worn by women, and has
not lessened their beauty; while the full dress
In which they appear Of an evening was
never moro artistic than 1t Is now. As the
processes OF manufacture have been perfect
ed, and as chemistry has provided a greater
variety Of tones and colors, the fabrics worn
tunities for striking and harmonious combi-
nations have vastly increased. Compared
with what they are now, the different fabrics
of a generation ago were few, their manu-
facture crude, and in color and pattern they
were very deficient artistically. So great,
In truth, has the variety become, and 30 fire.
quent are the improvements In the art Of the
manufacturer, that the dealer In the goods is
required to exercise a degree OF discrimina-
ton and foresight as to what is likely to sat
isfy public taste which renders his task far
more difficult than formerly.
Yet these six French women would cast
aside all that art and science have done for
the identifying Of the materials and for
making more esthetically satisfactory the
fashioning of their garments. II the con-
ventional European dress Of men, which
they would substitute for that worn by
women, were the best that could be devised
for human being, there might be practical
justification for its adoption by both sexes.
even at the sacrifice OF beauty. II
1t were better adapted to all weathers and
all occupations than the flowing robes Of
women, it would be moro harmonious with
the requirements of this active age But
men themselves cry out against Its incon-
venience and its insuitability to their oocupa-
tions. Trousers are by no means the ideal
garment even for masculine wear, and it IL
the trousers which moro especially distin-
guish the male from the female attire in our
Western civilization. As We have said in
the matter OF coats for outdoor wear the
sexes are now not very differently habited.
Something resembling Knickerbockers
would be much more suitable for men than
trousers, and II the six French women really
want to benefit the human species they had
better let them organize q movement against
trousers, rather than undertake to put trou-
sers on the sex not now forced by conven-
ton to wear them. Tho Chinese costume
for men is better, and II women are dissatis-
fed with their present attire, they would be
wiser to adopt that, with notifications which
would satisfy their love OF beauty. 1t Is
flowing and it admits OF variety Of color
and material impossible under the conven-
tions Of the European dress for men.
1t Is true. Of course. that II women con-
tinue to compete with men in ali except a
few of the industries of the world. they must
make some change in their present costume,
or else permanently suffer from manifest
disabilities; but that Is no reason why they
should initiate masculine attire as 1t Is In the
West. Let them rather use their inventive
capacity to devise dress more convenient
and more beautiful, or rather which. to
some extent at least, Satisfies the law Of
beauty, as the dress Of men does not.
What, for instance, would be better adapt
edSto work than the bathing costume now
worn by women. with some slight modlfca-
lions But trousers, fair sistersl Do not,
oh, do not think of theml
Strong, but Not the Strongest.
There has been Of late scattering dis
cussion OF the possibilities and probabilities
OF Mr.. ROBERT TODD LINCOLN as . candi-
date for the Presidency. Mr.. LINCOLN has
declared that he would not take the Vice.